Weare Reservoir Dam
Weare Reservoir Dam is an earth dam located in Hillsborough, New Hampshire, built in 1913. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Weare Reservoir Dam
The primary purpose of Weare Reservoir Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Nh Des Water Division (state). It impounds the Piscataquog River near Weare.
The dam stands 34 feet tall and stretches 340 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 278 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 8,600 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 28 square miles. Completed in 1913, the structure is over a century old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 04/06/2022.
At 34 feet, this dam is taller than 80% of dams nationwide.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The New Hampshire dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | New Hampshire |
| County | Hillsborough |
| Nearest City | Weare |
| River/Stream | Piscataquog River |
| Coordinates | 43.10880, -71.77410 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 34 ft |
| Dam Height | 34 ft |
| Dam Length | 340 ft |
| Year Completed | 1913 (113 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 8,600 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 8,600 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 6,300 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 278 acres |
| Drainage Area | 28 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | NH DES WATER DIVISION |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 04/06/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NH00114 |
| Federal ID | NH00114 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |